Perbedaan Perubahan Kekasaran Permukaan Enamel Setelah Pengunaan Bahan Etsa Citric Acid Dari Jeruk Brastagi (Citrus Nobilis Var Brastepu)

Abstract

Brackets are essential components of fixed orthodontic treatment, requiring an etching process to create enamel microporosities for bonding. Phosphoric acid 37% is widely used as the gold standard etching agent; however, it may adversely affect enamel surface integrity. Therefore, safer alternative etching agents are needed. Brastagi orange (Citrus nobilis var. Brastepu) is a natural material that can be processed into citric acid and used as an etching agent prior to bracket placement. This laboratory experimental study aimed to evaluate differences in the mean changes of enamel surface roughness following the application of citric acid gel at concentrations of 30%, 40%, and 50% compared with phosphoric acid 37%. A total of 28 maxillary premolar teeth were divided into four groups. Enamel surface roughness was measured before and after etching for 30 seconds using a Mitutoyo Surftest SJ-210 profilometer at the central area of each sample. ANOVA showed significant differences among all treatment groups (p < 0.05). Post-hoc LSD analysis confirmed significant differences in the mean surface roughness changes between groups. The lowest increase in surface roughness was observed in the citric acid 30% group (0.134 ± 0.024 μm), followed by the citric acid 40% group (0.474 ± 0.49 μm), the citric acid 50% group (0.713 ± 0.768 μm), and the phosphoric acid 37% group (1.089 ± 0.999 μm). In conclusion, citric acid gel at a concentration of 30% resulted in the minimal increase in enamel surface roughness after etching prior to bracket placement.